I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer

The writing of the book makes this clear - every new spread repeats how Matthew Henson didn't persevere against some hardship - be it the environment, prejudice, hunger (they have to eat their sled dogs at one point, so if your kids are especially sensitive, be ready for it!), or superstition - in order to give up or fail at that point. Matthew Henson, of course, actually existed and actually helped Peary reach the North Pole. In his words, he was the FIRST one there, in fact, but it's hard to know what really happened because afterwards Peary distanced himself from Henson when there were competing claims about which group of explorers had arrived first. (This is spelled out in the afterword instead of in the book proper, which allows the book to end on a happy, uplifting, and successful note instead of "I didn't do all this so that the guy I traveled with could say I didn't really help him and my accomplishment doesn't count, but you know what? That's what happened anyway".) The writing is forceful and clear, and it's not so wordy you can't read it aloud.

I love a book where you come away with knowledge of someone or something you had absolutely no idea existed. In I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer, I learned about Matthew Henson, who together with Robert Peary became the first men to reach the North Pole. I, Matthew Henson is written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Through poetry, it tells the life story of Matthew Henson, an African American man with big dreams of exploring the world. Born in 1866, Henson lived in a time when African Americans had very limited opportunities in the world. Through hard work and a little luck, he accomplished goals most people only dreamt about. Written in lyrical first person verse, the hardships he encountered along the way (such as serving as a manservant, frigid weather, racism) are beautifully and realistically depicted: "We had not survived the frigid cold that broke some and killed others to let our dream belt when hope and cash ran low. While others gave up, we returned to the polar region and, guided by Eskimos, fetched a prize from the ice cap-a meteor, which Peary sold to raise funds." Henson, Peary and four Eskimos reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909. While the book ends on a positive note, there's an extensive author's note at the end of the book which talks about the controversy that Henson and Peary experienced after their journey. Someone else claimed to have gotten there first, and then some authorities dismissed their accomplishment because of the color of Henson's skin. While eventually all was resolved, the book presents a realistic portrayal of the trials experienced by one African American at the turn of the century.

I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer is one of those "picture books" that ought to be read by both children and adults alike. As a child, I certainly didn't learn all these wonderful facts about the man who helped Robert Peary reach the North Pole. As I look for great books about perseverance and hard work for my children, it is always a joy to find a gem like "I Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer". Enjoy!